The memorial to honor 15 people who were killed in the fertilizer plant explosion that occurred in 2013 in the city of West, Texas, has now begun. Being constructed in a city park, approximately 100 yards from where the explosion took place, its completion is anticipated for the end of summer, at a total cost of $300,000, which will be completely covered by donations.
Local News
Memorial to Honor 15 Killed in City of West’s 2013 Fertilizer Plant Explosion Now Underway
By |
Photo: Facebook/RYOT
The blast, which took place at the West Fertilizer Company in this Central Texas city, happened on April 17, 2013. It caused $100 million in damages, and a federal investigation into the cause determined that it was a criminal act.
Photo: Facebook/Texas Life
Designed by former city resident Kurt Vrbas, the memorial will pay tribute via a reflecting pool which will be surrounded by plaques featuring the names of the 12 first-responders and three city of West residents who lost their lives. Joe Pustejovsky, memorial committee chairman Joe Pustejovsky, identified that donations for the project will cover the budget for the memorial in its entirety. Construction on the project began in May, and in a statement published by the Star-Telegram, the city of West’s Mayor Tommy Muska identified, “I know it’s been a long time, but it’s something I didn’t want to do haphazardly. What we’ve come up with is going to be a beautiful monument and a beautiful remembrance for those people.”
Sources:
